Can I...

[crusader1234]

As a Catholic, can I study the Talmud (one of the Jewish books)? I think it would be interesting and help me better understand Catholocism and what Jesus means.

I don't personally think there should be any problem since I'm pretty sure the Talmud dates back to the Maccabees at least.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='crusader1234' date='Jul 28 2004, 07:31 PM'] As a Catholic, can I study the Talmud (one of the Jewish books)?  I think it would be interesting and help me better understand Catholocism and what Jesus means.

I don't personally think there should be any problem since I'm pretty sure the Talmud dates back to the Maccabees at least. [/quote]
There is nothing [i]per se[/i] wrong with studying the Talmud. The Mishnah, which forms a part (the central part) of the Talmud, was only written down around the end of the second century by Rabbi Judah the Prince, and is a written compilation of the Oral Torah. As long as you remember that the Church has rejected the Oral Torah as a form of [i]deuterosis[/i], then you'll be fine. The other portions of the Talmud (both Babylonian and Palestinian) were written later than the Mishnah and are a commentary on it. The Babylonian Talmud is the larger and more authoritative collection and was completed sometime during the 6th century, while the Palestinian (Jerusalem) Talmud is of lesser importance and was completed sometime during the 4th century. Some additional commentaries have been added to the Talmud over the centuries, including the works of Rashi written in the 11th century.

I have a [i]Minor in Jewish Studies[/i] from San Francisco State University, and I learned a great deal by studying Judaism, especially as it concerns the nature of liturgical theology and the theology of memory. But you must always bear in mind that because the Talmud is a [i]deuterosis[/i], it has no divine authority, and so it is only important as a historical resource.

Edited July 29, 2004 by Apotheoun

[crusader1234]

Well most of the talmud is just describing how to celebrate festivals and stuff right?

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='crusader1234' date='Jul 28 2004, 08:19 PM'] Well most of the talmud is just describing how to celebrate festivals and stuff right? [/quote]
No. The Mishnah, which is the heart of the Talmud, is divided into six orders that concern every aspect of the Law and how to live as a Jew. Only the Moedh concerns Sabbaths and Festivals, while the other five orders concern different aspects of the Torah, i.e., civil law, criminal law, purity laws, vows, etc.

Edited July 29, 2004 by Apotheoun